Stimulating first stint ends with ‘thank you, readers’

Not only is this a cracker photo of a dog driving a car, but it also has a second star — the automobile in question. Can anyone tell what it is (the car, not the dog)? Is it an MG or an Armstrong-Siddeley? Thanks to Ralph-Peter Hendriks for capturing this in Middlemarch in autumn this year.

It's arrived — the last column of the year and my last day at work until January 3.

And in time-honoured fashion, all the ideas and words that have been spinning around inside my head over the past few days for this final fling for 2017 have now disappeared down that big wordsmith’s plughole.So I’ll have to make it up as I go. Hmmm, business as usual then.

Thirty columns on, I’m amazed at the breadth of topics we’ve covered. ODT editor Barry Stewart will confirm for you my nervousness before the first instalment at being able to sustain a five-day-a-week column. He assured me I’d get plenty of help from you and he’s been absolutely right. Long may it continue.

There’s always a lot to do on your last day. I’m sitting here interviewing my keyboard — as we put it in this profession — and worrying how I’ll get through it all.

I’m dying to go and make a plunger of nice coffee but somehow feel glued to my seat, too afraid to move. And I’m starting to think that any self-respecting, successful columnist should have someone to make their coffee for them on mornings like this. Don’t worry, though; I’m a realist. That delusion of grandeur has already passed.

It’s been ideal to have this six-week slot leading up to Christmas. Part of the fun of doing something new has been experimenting with ideas and different styles of writing.

The column title was a flash of inspiration from colleague Philip Somerville at a time when I was struggling to come up with something. But longtime ODT reporter and raconteur John Gibb just the other day suggested "Paulderdash" might be a good alternative. I quite like that.

The best bit has been receiving so many calls and emails from you. Unfortunately, that has meant not everything has been able to get in. So apologies if I haven’t managed to use your photograph or your story. There’s still a good chance I will do that in the new year. Keep the messages rolling in.

So cute. Tauranga writer Denise Fitzpatrick, an ex-Dunedinite, sent in this photo of her dog, Chico, perusing her debut novel September Promise. Good luck with the book, Denise.

Magic moments

Which segues rather nicely into a bit of a promo for the Otago Daily Times "Magic Moments" competition. We’re looking for your best holiday photos. During the next few weeks, send them in for this competition rather than hanging on to them for when the column starts up again. Send your photos to magicmoments@odt.co.nz Good luck!

Last-minute offer

John, of Mosgiel, has just emailed to say he can help the Dunedin woman who contacted Marilyn Dunn, of Kaka Point, asking if she knew where to get replacement bulbs for her vintage Christmas light set.

"I have an older set with the Edison screw-type lights in the garage that belonged to my wife’s grandparents," John says.

"I am quite happy to pass them on free."

Thanks, John. His contact details are email nobes@xtra.co.nz or 03 489-2527.

Christmas forecast

Time to assess the accuracy of the long-range weather forecast for Christmas Day based on the computer models used by metvuw.com.

Last Friday, the 15th, the maps were showing Otago was likely to enjoy very warm nor’west weather.

This morning, four days out (time for a quick and welcome internet distraction from writing) — well, guess what, there’s very little change. Looks like it will be warm to start with across the region with those northwesterlies, but a cooler, wetter southerly change will be edging in by the afternoon.

That is not particularly good news. But, on the bright side, it shows just how consistent and accurate these forecasts can be. Although I guess it hasn’t actually happened yet. If it does, well done metvuw.com.

Gillian Foster, of Dunedin, shares her favourite decoration. ‘‘This Father Christmas light was always on our tree when I was growing up. I have inherited him and he takes pride of place on my tree now. He is very old and very special.’’

Final gobbledygook

The gibberish continues drifting in.

Carey Martin, of Orange, New South Wales — great to be read overseas — found this title of a University of Rostock, Germany, symposium.

"Current challenges to mediatized science communication."

And one more from a reader.

"Farmers are inherently sensitised to interface with daily environmental contrasts that are unique to New Zealand and its grass-based management systems, so are responsive to what they know as being best practice."

Which I think means they know about the pros and cons of grazing.

Time to go

My final word, if I wanted to be deliberately provocative, would probably be something like ‘‘Happy Holidays’’, but it’s probably best we don’t go there.

Instead, I’ll wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. Thanks again.

The column will be back on January 22.

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